Lab Members

Yoder-Himes Lab Members

Dr. Deborah Yoder-Himes, Ph.D.

You can reach me at <deborah.yoder-himes@louisville.edu>

Brad Clark - graduate student

Brad is currently examining the role of the TolQRAB-Pal complex in B. dolosa virulence. His future work may include examining the response of CF pathogens to amoebae and macrophages. Brad spent 1.5 years as an undergraduate in which he isolated and identified numerous bacteria from Kentucky soils - all of which were extremely resistant to antibiotics currently used in CF clinics worldwide. Brad also led a team of other undergraduates in the isolate and identification of even more microbes.

TJ Brandt - graduate student

TJ is working the interactions between bacteria in mixed species biofilms as these are prevalent in both nature and in the human body. Her work has led to new potential therapeutics for opportunistic pathogens. She is currently investigating new compounds that are produced by one pathogen that have inhibitory effects on another, very common microbe, Staph aureus.

Rhiannon Cecil - graduate student

Rhiannon is working on understanding the interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and predators such as Amoebae and immune cells. She is conducting long term evolution studies and will evaluate how P. aerguinosa and the host cells change genetically and phenotypically in response to long term co-culturing. We can then perturb this system by adding other microbes and asking what changes with there are more community members around?

Matt Hill - undergraduate researcher

Matt is examining the relationship between Staph aureus and other CF pathogens. His work involves examining the relationship of microbes over time in biofilms.

Josh Stewart - undergraduate researcher

Josh is studying the relationship between Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and other CF pathogens in mixed species biofilms. He is interesting in understanding why this organism can so potently inhibit other CF pathogens in vitro.

Easton Ford - technician

Easton is our beta diversity expert.

Shelby Rauck- undergraduate researcher

coming soon...

Bridget Wall - undergraduate researcher

coming soon...

Last but not least - Buddy the sock beer, our lab mascot!

The less you know about his origins, the better.

Former students

David Jensen, M.S. - University of Kentucky Dental School

Molly (McDonald) Weatherholt, B.A. - Medical School at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Northwest